A native of Indiana, Dr. George K. Stookey attended Indiana University where he received a bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1957. He attended the IU School of Dentistry where he received a master's degree in preventive dentistry in 1962 and a doctorate in dental sciences in 1971. He joined the faculty in the department of preventive dentistry in the IU School of Dentistry as an assistant professor in 1964 and was promoted to associate professor in 1973 and to professor in 1978. He served as Associate Director of the Oral Health Research Institute during 1974-81 and as Director, 1981-99. He also served as Associate Dean for Research from 1985 to 1996 and 2000-01. Beginning in 1996 he served in various administrative positions at the IU School of Dentistry including Acting Dean (1996), Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs (1997-2000), and Executive Associate Dean (1998-2000). He was promoted to Distinguished Professor in 1998 and retired from the I.U. School of Dentistry in 2001.

In July 2002 Dr. Stookey acquired a small company, Therametric Technologies, and now has research facilities and programs in the IU Emerging Technologies Center on the IUPUI campus. Dr. Stookey continues to be an active researcher with primary interests in fluoride pharmacology, the use of fluoride to prevent dental caries, new technologies for the early detection of dental caries, additives to enhance the benefits of fluoride and measures for calculus prevention. He continues to serve as the principal investigator on research grants from the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research the Indiana 21st Century Research and Technology Fund. He is the author or co-author of 298 publications in scientific journals and 388 presentations at national and international scientific meetings. He has also served as editor or co-editor of 8 text or reference books with contributions to 16 others and has more than 40 US and foreign patents relating to measures for dental caries detection in humans and calculus prevention in animals. His memberships include the International Association for Dental Research, the European Organization for Caries Research, American Dental Association, and American Veterinary Dental Association. In 2000 he was elected into honorary membership in the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists. His recent awards include the World of Difference Award from the Indiana Health Industry Forum (2000); the Distinguished Scientist Award (2002) and the E.W. Borrow Memorial Award (2005) from the International Association for Dental Research; and the ORCA-Zsolnay Prize for research in cariology from the European Organization for Caries Research (2007).